Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Hand-Pulled Boy
Date: 23 Jul 06 - 05:44 AM

Got it 2 weeks ago complete with booklet and all the required words therein. Lyrics quite clear on listening.............. A fine piece of work. Also got the new CD by Muse. Excellent throughout.

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: oombanjo
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 01:37 PM

Love it

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: GUEST,Keith
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 06:07 AM

If you want to hear a rousing live performance of Roots, in which Steve Knightley changes the words to specifically mention Kim Howells' contribution to live music, there is one at the finale of this 55 minute Show of Hands concert recorded in Blackburn and broadcast last Thursday on BBC Radio Lancashire.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/networks/lancashire/aod.shtml?lancashire/drift_lancs

It will be online now until this following Thursday.

There is a repeat broadcast on Radio Lancs tomorrow night (Sunday 23rd July).

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 05 Jul 06 - 11:38 AM

Just heard that Show of Hands are going to be on Mark Radcliffe's BBC Radio 2 show next week.

Here's the link to his page and it'll be on 'Listen Again' for the entire week as well.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/radcliffe/

Well done Mark!


:0)

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: redsnapper
Date: 05 Jul 06 - 08:41 AM

Not really my cup of tea like most of SoH's and especially Steve Knightley's stuff although I do like and would be in solidarity with much of the message of the lyrics.

RS

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 05 Jul 06 - 07:25 AM

YES!!! EVEN Colin Irwin now LOVES them!!

This is his review:



"Mojo, August 2006

Show of Hands, Witness

4 Stars

The poppy arrangements which have taken SOH to the edges of the mainstream have often been at the expense of credibility, but Steve Knightley's songs have developed such an edge that it's hard to deny them any longer. The recruitment of Simon Emerson as producer takes a sound augmented by the likes of Seth Lakeman and Miranda Sykes up several notches; this is a big album

Colin Irwin"

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 04:17 AM

Now *that's* what happens when you've been starved of Show of Hands!

So QUICK!!!!! Get 'Witness' out and put it on at full volume! ;0)


It's thundering down here in Sidmouth today, just starting to pour as well, a typical sort of Abbotsbury Day really (only SIX days to go!)......Still, once the lightning stops I can put my Show of Hands umbrella up and dance down the street. (I love it when it rains!) ;0)

And now.....*back* to discussion of the lads and their songs.......


Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Cllr
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 06:57 PM

Thanks for that Fiona, of course you are right and as for shooglenifty i was playing stuff from i think Venus in tweeds, title track love dancing to there stuff Cllr

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 11:06 AM

Oh...This gets better every minute!


http://www.myspace.com/showofhandsuk


What shall I wish for next?

I know! I wish that Show of Hands music was being played on every single Radio 1 and 2 progamme every single day!

There...that oughta do it! ;0)

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 10:52 AM

The lyrics for "Roots" are up on their MySpace page. Hit the button marked "Lyrics" on the player.

http://www.myspace.com/showofhandsuk

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 10:04 AM

I thought you might like Falmouth Packet. It's very jolly and a good entertaining song...whereas 'Roots' of course is far deeper, that's why it means so much to so many people.

Thanks Liam. I got my original version of Steve's lyrics from someone else. And then when I got 'Witness' for my birthday we went to Dunster Castle for the day, took the CD with us...and when I got home I had the case...and the CD...but I'd lost the booklet with all the CD info and lyrics in! Grrrrrrrrrrr!

Somewhere in Dunster.........

"I've lost St. George from my CD rack
It's my booklet ooh! and I want it back"



I don't think they have an 'official' Show of Hands lyrics page on their site, although there is of course the Steve Knightley Songbook (both books in one now I think).....but 'Roots' is way too new to be in there.

It would be great if Show of Hands posted their lyrics up like George Papavgeris does on his site..and then all the correct words would be there for everyone to see anytime....and also to link straight into as well on various sites.

Glad to see the correct version. Amazing what a difference an 'in' and an 'and' can make isn't it? Because that sentence now is suddenly SO much more powerful.

EXCELLENT!!

Heck! I was thrilled with the words before....but now....I'm over the moon!!

"I've lost St. George IN the Union Jack
It's my flag too and I want it back!"

Oh YES!!! I'll be singing that at the top of my voice at Abbotsbury!

Apologies to Steve Knightley for that Dingbat of an Error! ;0)



Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Fiona
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 09:43 AM

Thank you Liam, the wrong transcription has been posted for ages, it makes much more sense your way!

He is still wrong about the 'jack' though, my granda was very scathing about that one and also folk who flew it upside down! I still think the songs rubbish though.

Funnily enough I like the 'Falmouth Packet', good tune, very afrocelty, but I liked phil Beers 'Ryhthm Methodist' too.

fx

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: GUEST,Liam
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 09:33 AM

Fiona,

the actual line in the lyric book in Witness is

"I've lost St George in the Union Jack
It's my flag too and I want it back"

I think that brings more sense of "Englishness" to the song.

I suspect you read an early (erroneous) transcription from one of Mr Knightley's disciples.

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Fiona
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 08:10 AM

Zipping my Afrocelt anorak up to the neck and putting up the hood, I'd like to point out that Simon & Mass are part of the band, but not the whole.

HMV have got their research wrong too, the Afrocelts have never won a Grammy (though IMO they should have). Simon was a nominee for his work as a producer with Baaba Maal on 'Firin in Fouta' (sp?) but they didn't win. This album was the seed of the Afrocelt idea, shortly after Simon was working with Davey Spillane and with some input from the agitprop artist Jamie Reid and the folks he'd met on his travels with Baaba Maal, the idea of the Afro Celt Sound System was born.

One member of the band who DID play on the new SOH album but never seems to be mentioned, is Johnny Kalsi, also of the Dhol FOundation. He plays the tablas on 'If I Needed Someone' and is certainly a major contributer to Mass' huge collection of drum samples, with Dhol, tabla and his famous Kalsi Kit (a kind of Heath Robinson affair of allsorts of percussion on scaffolding).

As for the song 'Roots' I'm afraid I don't like it at all, it seems needlessly jingoistic (is that a word?) to me and the chorus doesn't seem to go with the verses. The Union flag (not jack btw) is the national flag of the UK of GB not England. And I like 'Duelling Banjoes' anyway, so there.

But I haven't just joined this thread to plug my favourite band, there is some indication (ok idle gossip and speculative rumour) that 'Roots' will be the last song on Simon Emmersons next project 'The Imagined Village'. This project is a trip through English folk, the only song I've heard so far is Martin Carthy/Paul Wellers 'John Barleycorn' in a thread on the fRoots board Ian Anderson (who heard the finished tapes) mentions PJ Harvey & the Copper Family, also the poet Benjamin Zephania. Maybe the 'Roots' song will make more sense as part of the whole, I hae ma doots though.

BTW Cllr, 'Whirl-Y-Reel' is from the Afrocelts first album 'Sound Magic', two mixes, 'Folk Police' and 'Beard & Sandals' a third, 'Whirly #3' is on Pod. It's one of my all time favourites, Shooglenifty also guest on the tune. ACSS have some wonderful guests on their albums too, Davey Spillane plays pipes on that one.

Lizzie your new favourite Ayub Ogada is another of their guests on 'Sound Magic', he accompanies Iarla O'Lionard on vocals on 'House of the Ancestors' and plays nyatti (?). He features on 'Seed' too in the wonderful 'Ayubs Song/As You Will' a set of tunes which also has Martin Hayes on fiddle. It's that good, Mike Harding even played it on his show!

fx (too hot in anorak)

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Scrump
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 06:25 PM

I agree - Steve Knightley has become just about my favourite songwriter. Country Life, Roots and the older Cold Heart of England are all classics in similar vein, decrying the state of our country and tackling issues that affect us today in Britain; something no-one else seems to be doing in song. And of course Phil Beer shouldn't be overlooked - great musician and performer too.

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 06:03 PM

OOH...Did someone mention those Afro Celts?????

http://www.myspace.com/afrocelts

:0)

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Cllr
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 05:35 PM

I used to play "afro celt sound system's album (whiryigig) alongside SoH, back when I had a student radio show back in 94 -98 It must have finally rubbed off 8-) Cllr

along side Pressgang, martin carthy, robb johnson, Oysterband and shooglenifty and many others

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 06:52 AM

The lyrics to that song are bloody good.

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 06:41 AM

This is a great review of 'Witness' from the free HMV magazine!


"HMVChoice June/July Issue : Witness

English folk favourites team up with Afro-Celts in winning style.


Without a single flashbulb of mainstream exposure, the folk duo of Steve Knightley and Phil Beer have built a large and dedicated fan base simply by playing every folk club and festival in the land and delivering English roots music of the highest quality. Incredibly, theyve sold out the Albert Hall twice and yet they remain criminally ignored by all but the specialist folk media. Perhaps Witness is the album finally to change all that and deliver them the wider recognition they richly deserve.

With a sparkling, technicolour production by Simon Emmerson and Simon Mass Massey of the Grammywinning Afro-Celt Sound System, theyve gone and made their most innovative studio album to date. Knightleys highly literate, original songs and acoustic guitar are expertly embellished by Beers multiinstrumental skills on fiddle, mandolin and melodeon, while folk wonderkidof- the-moment (and fellow Devon resident) Seth Lakeman helps out on guitar and backing vocals. But its the subtle but dynamic drum programming from those Afro-Celt boys that marks this out as a landmark album. - Nigel Williamson"


Not bad eh!

Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 03:17 PM

I'd agree with you there Barry. I love the addition of that Afro-Celt sound on some of the tracks...and here is a link to those Afro-Celts too, just in case anyone would like to hear more of Simon Emmerson:

http://www.myspace.com/afrocelts


:0)

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: rhyzla
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 01:27 PM

'Witness' is, in my thoughts, SOH's best album to date and Roots is probably amongst the best 4 or 5 songs on it - I'd recommend anyone to get to hear some of it, and then buy/download.

try seeing them live too - top performers, again in my opinion!

Barry

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Cllr
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 01:05 PM

Of course. You are right, my thanks go to stig then 8-)

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 12:44 PM

That's OK Cllr, although in fairness I didn't start this thread. All thanks *should* go to Stig for that one.


Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Cllr
Date: 18 Jun 06 - 04:37 AM

I think some of the finest contemparay folks songs have anger and passion in them my favourites being from the likes of Jon Heslop with "cheap boats" and Robb Johnson's "boxing day". "Country life" was indeed a classic and my utter disbelief at Howells comments is finaly rewarded with a song worth the measure.
Thanks to lizzie for bringing this up because while im sure i would have got round to it Im glad to have found it a bit quicker! Cllr

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 18 Jun 06 - 03:49 AM

Countess Diane, I am shocked!.....Though not the least bit surprised when I come to think on it.

This unfathomable Anti-Show of Hands Campaign, that has gone on for years across many boards, is *finally* starting to make sense!!

"..And the Minister says his vision of hell
Is three folk singers in a pub near Wells
Well I've got a vision of urban sprawl
Pubs where no one ever sings at all..."

YOU, of ALL people, go to pubs where they have KARAOKE?????????

You're Kim Howells aren't you! Oh! WHY haven't I realised that before!

You actually sit around in pubs enjoying giving people marks out of 1 for singing American Pie????????

Hells Bells!

"Haul away boys let them go
Out in the wind and the rain and snow
We've lost more than we'll ever know
On the rocky shores of England"




Lizzie ;0)

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 17 Jun 06 - 07:17 PM

Even I know that's the first verse of the tedious Roots. I think LC didn't like to mention it on the grounds that she once said she like American Pie and that's surely very difficult to live down. I find it great fun to mark karaoke contestants on whether they get the tune right on the line Took my chevvy to the levee but the levee was dry. Current score is approximately 0.5%.

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 17 Jun 06 - 06:29 PM

Oh my Lordy! HOW embarrassing is that???

I've just failed my Show of Hands 'A' Level!

I shall *never* live that one down DMcG. ;0)

Thanks for putting it in.


Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: DMcG
Date: 17 Jun 06 - 06:25 PM

I've just noticed the first verse was omitted from lyrics Lizzie posted above. The downloaded version of the song starts:

Now it's been twenty-five years or more
I've roamed this land from shore to shore
From Tyne to Tamar, Severn to Thames
From Moor to Vale from Peak to Fen
Played in cafes and pubs and bars
I've stood in the street with my old guitar
But I'd be richer than all the rest
If I had a pound for each request
For "Duelling Banjos", "American Pie"
It's enough to make you cry
"Rule Britannia" or "Swing low",
Are they the only songs the English know?

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 17 Jun 06 - 04:39 PM

Hi Mandy Cello (great name!) ;0)

'Witness' their new CD is out on general release now. You can definitely buy it from their main website and it should be in record shops too. Not sure about e bay, but Amazon have definitely got it:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000FG635K/qid%3D1150576413/202-3107779-7301430

I think you'll find that the 'Rush' CD is not from Steve Knightley and Phil Beer. There's a US band called Rush who have released a CD entitled 'A Show Of Hands'

I can see why confusion has occurred though. Hope this helps.


Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 17 Jun 06 - 04:30 PM

On this link to the BBC Music Club board you can listen to some links to Steve's interview on Radio 4 last Monday, but they'll disappear after this week. Message 2 from Keith.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbradio2/F4387184?thread=3146306

The interview is taking place on Farming Today and another programme, as 'Country Life' has been used as the soundtrack to a new film about er..country life! This was shown to our all wondrous MP's last Monday....you know...those great guys who care so passionately about us all and our countryside! ;0)

Details are in the thread, links to articles too.

And you'll see there the usual rubbish about me daring to write about Show of Hands on a BBC board where it actually says that you can write about music that you are 'passionate' about! Well...I did...and they hanging, drawing and quatering me....as always.

However, I was able to start threads on Richard Thompson and Yusuf Islam?Cat Stevens and no one batted an eye lid. I started one on The Oysterband as well, no-one passed any comment, but it was later mysteriously removed!

Why do you keep coming up against such outrage over Show of Hands? Part of me thinks it's wonderful mind! To be able to enrage people like that, merely at the mention of their name...well..it says that they are daring to touch more than a few consciences and getting it right!

Well, I'm off to tell them all about someone else now....Oh...and if anyone feels like visiting the new Radio 2 (er...fun) Music Club and going on the Show of Hands thread, which now has no title or first post from me as the ********'s got it taken off...please feel free! ;0) And I started it because Johnnie Walker has now played two of their songs over the last few weeks and is starting to rave about them a bit...he'll soon be like the rest of us, no worries! ;0)

Mind you...I'm already on Pre-Mod over there, which means that every word I write is checked and re-checked before it's allowed on....and then...they remove it!!

Oh...the trials of a Show of Hands fan! ;0)


Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: DMcG
Date: 17 Jun 06 - 03:55 PM

I'm in two minds about it, really. Musically, it's a little too rocky for my taste, but the lyrics and sentiments are spot on.

I have bought it though for solidarity purposes!

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: GUEST,Mandy Chello
Date: 17 Jun 06 - 10:15 AM

thanks ..

I was so impressed by those audio sample tracks
I went to ebay to find the cd..

maybe not released yet ?

so i took a risk on a cheap "buy it now" double CD live album

titled "Rush"


looking forward to hearing it

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Grab
Date: 17 Jun 06 - 08:06 AM

Very good. Steve Knightley does seem to produce a few average songs each album - but when he gets it right (like "Galway Farmer") then it's something special.

The title song "Country Life" off their last album was equally heartfelt - that's another album worth having.

Graham.

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 17 Jun 06 - 01:53 AM

Lizzie, absolutley brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Cllr
Date: 16 Jun 06 - 03:45 PM

oh thats truly marvelous Im going out to buy the album next time i get the chance Clr

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 16 Jun 06 - 03:36 PM

You could start your new flag design whilst listening to these great guys Les!

Paddy Rasta: (Celtic Reggae)

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=44849265


And this of course is the site of those West Country Wandering Minstrels:

http://www.showofhands.co.uk/

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 16 Jun 06 - 03:01 PM

It's a good 'ne.

I like the idea of many union jacks. One based on Rastefarian colours - Rasta Jack, another with shades of green - Eco Jack, one in shades of sky blue - Man City Jack.

What colours are your jack Jackqueline and Jack?

Subject: Lyr Add: ROOTS (Steve Knightley)
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 16 Jun 06 - 01:02 PM

Because I love you Stig! ;0)

'Roots' by Steve Knightley

"After the speeches when the cake's been cut
The disco's over and the bar is shut
Funeral, wedding, birthday, wake
What can we sing until the morning breaks?

But Indian, Asian, Afro-Celt
It's in the blood, below the belt
Singing and dancing all night long
What have they got right that we've got wrong.

Seed, bud, flower, fruit
Never gonna grow without their roots
Branch, stem, roots
They need roots.

Haul away boys let them go
Out in the wind and the rain and snow
We've lost more than we'll ever know
On the rocky shores of England

And the Minister says his vision of hell
Is three folk singers in a pub near Wells
Well I've got a vision of urban sprawl
Pubs where no one ever sings at all

And everyone is staring at a TV screen
Overpaid soccer stars, prancing teens
Australian soap, American rap
Estury English, Baseball cap

We learn to be ashamed before we walk
Of the way we look and the way we talk
Without our stories or our songs
How will we know where we came from?

Take St. George and the Union Jack
It's my flag too and I want it back

Seed, bud, flower, fruit
Never gonna grow without their roots
Branch, stem, roots
They need roots

And haul away boys let them go
Out in the wind and the rain and snow
We've lost more than we'll ever know
On the rocky shores of England"



Hope the lines come out spaced properly. Fingers crossed and I'm pressing 'submit' right...now!


Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 16 Jun 06 - 12:08 PM

Oh STIG! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

'Roots' should be our new National Anthem!! It is the most wonderful song! And...here it is!

http://www.myspace.com/showofhandsuk

And this is the thread from the BBC Folk and Acoustic board:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbradio2/F2142825?thread=2495746


Lizzie :0)


PS....Are you going to see them at The Royal Albert Hall next Easter?

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Stu
Date: 16 Jun 06 - 11:59 AM

I forgot to mention - the track features Kim 'Wouldn't know culture if it ran over him' Howells comments on 3 folk singers in a Somerset pub.

Ha!

Subject: Show of Hands - Roots - what a track!
From: Stu
Date: 16 Jun 06 - 11:57 AM

For the first time in yonks I tuned into the Mike Harding show the other night and heard this song by Show of Hands, from their new album Witness.

I was blown away! I went straight onto iTunes and downloaded it from the store. A new manifesto for a nation that's lost it's own culture and needs to claw it back. An ideal companion to Maggie Holland's A Place Called England.

I'd love to see the lyrics, but can't find them on the web site.

Anyone else heard it?

stigWeard